Chapter24
A Carriage Ride Proves Problematic
Meanwhile, back at Piazza della Rotunda
“I think it’s time we head back home,” Donald murmured, his attention on the priest who had been speaking with David and Vittoria.
Or scolding them.
He couldn’t tell for certain, but he would discover more when he had a chance to be alone with his brother later that evening.
“There will be a luncheon waiting for us,” Nicoletta replied, which had Donald hurrying off to gather the others in their party.
“Our carriages await,” he said as they filed out of the Pantheon.Indeed, two town coaches and a barouche, all emblazoned with the Montblanc coat of arms, were lined up along one side of the piazza.
“I would prefer to be out of the sun,” Barbara said, hinting she wanted to ride in one of the town coaches.
“And you shall, my sweet,” Will said, helping her into the first coach.They were joined by Nicoletta and Donald while Randy, Diana, Tom, and Helen hurried into the second coach.
David furrowed a brow, as if he suspected his brother might have planned the seating arrangements.He glanced over at Vittoria.“It appears we’re to share the barouche,” he commented.
“If we must,” she replied, lifting a shoulder as she opened her parasol.She allowed the tiger to help her into the open equipage, taking a seat so she faced the direction of travel.
Tempted to join her on the same bench, David realized her gown wouldn’t allow it—she had positioned herself in the center of the seat and spread her skirts so they nearly covered the entire bench.Her parasol was already opened, and she held the ivory handle in one gloved hand while the other rested on her lap.With her chin thrust out and tipped up a fraction, she appeared as spoiled as she behaved.
David settled onto the opposite bench and leaned his head back until sunlight bathed the lower half of his face.“You’re quite fortunate to live where the sun shines so frequently,” he remarked.
Vittoria sniffed.“Hardly.It can be terribly hot,” she countered.
“But tolerable in the winter,” he said.
She lifted a shoulder dismissively.“I suppose.”
“You don’t have to trudge through snow?”he asked.
Blinking, she appeared confused for a moment.“Trudge?”she repeated.“There is rarely snow here.”
“Ah,” David replied, nodding.
“What is ‘trudge’?”she asked.
“How one must walk when the snow—or the mud, I suppose—is deep,” he replied.“It’s...unpleasant.And very damaging to half-boots and slippers.”He gestured down to where the toes of her half-boots poked out from beneath the hem of her gown.They suddenly disappeared, and he lifted his questioning gaze to discover her face had taken on a blush of color.“What is it?”he asked.
She shook her head.“Nothing.”
“Why did you hide your feet?”
“My feet are none of your concern,” she replied.
David sounded a scoff.“If you have a rock in your shoe?—”
“I do not.”
“Or lodged in the sole of your?—”
“My boots are none of your concern.”She seemed to tuck them even farther back from the edge of her hem.
Furrowing his brows, David regarded her a moment before he said, “Are they giving you pain, my lady?”
